CNN Panel Brushes Aside Franken Allegations to Knock Moore; ‘He Was Just a Comedian’

Newsbusters.org ^ | November 16, 2017 | Curtis Houck

[Kaslin]

A Thursday afternoon CNN Newsroom panel showcased political tribalism as three liberal journalists downplayed the disturbing sexual misconduct allegations against Democratic Senator Al Franken (Minn.) by harping on the fact that Franken was “just a comedian” while those against Roy Moore and President Trump were far more serious.

“But just out of the gate, the fact that you have Gloria, you know, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, right, from the left and right, both saying there needs to be an ethics investigation. I realize that this was years and years ago, this story, and he was a private citizen at the time, but can he survive this,” host Brooke Baldwin wondered to chief political analyst Gloria Borger.

 

CNN Panel Brushes Aside Franken Allegations to Knock Moore; ‘He Was Just a Comedian’

Borger admitted that “[i]t remains to be seen,” but immediately went into spin mode by downplaying the fallout, stating that KABC radio host Leann Tweeden “did not call for him to step down or say he ought to step down” and didn’t render an opinion upon being told an investigation had been launched.

From there, Borger continued proving this segment as one of political tribalism, declaring that what matters most is “the context in which all of this occurring, which is Moore — Judge Moore — and that has been, you know, brewing and percolating, whatever you want to say, for days and days and days.” 

She added that Tweeden’s story will not be “the last” woman to come forward with disturbing allegations, but what came next from Borger was quite disturbing: “This is scratching the surface. He was not a member of the Congress at the time this occurred. He was just a comedian.”

Excuse me? Even with the full context (as just provided), it’s befuddling. “Just a comedian?” Borger would go onto all out the President for the allegations against him over the years, so what words would she use to describe Trump from the 1980s and 1990s?

But wait, there’s more! Here’s Borger continuing:

We'll see if her coming out gives other women sort of, you know, more purpose and allows them to talk about people who are currently in positions of power who could effect them. Franken has no effect on her at this particular time in her life. It's a little bit more difficult for women who were working in the Congress. But I think what you are going to see is more and more on this as we see around the country.

CNN contributor Emily Jane Fox was also part of the discussion, except she couldn’t do any better as Fox harped almost exclusively on Moore and the few left supporting him:

It's interesting what you think about what Judge Moore and his supporters are thinking about as you watch this. If he does continue on in the election and win a seat in the U.S. election, this is the climate he'll enter into and he's watching what they are saying on both sides in these allegations Senator Franken, what are they going to do allegations against Judge Moore? And I think that's an important thing for the people who continue to support Judge Moore, that this is the climate that he's going to enter into and it's not for giving for anybody for any kind of allegation. And certainly the ones against Judge Moore are more serious. 

Baldwin sought legal analysis from Faith Jenkins before going back to Borger and discussing not Franken but Moore and Trump:

Yes and what about the President? I guess I'm left wondering...questions have been shouted at the president, as he was coming, as he was going when meeting with the House Republicans before the big vote on the Hill. Nothing, according to Jeff Zeleny’s reporting, part of the reason that he hasn't commented on the whole Roy Moore piece of his whole story is, as I mentioned his own personal, let's rip the band-aid off, his own issue with women coming forward through the years alleging sexual, you know, assault and harassment against the now President. But how long can the White House just sit on this and not say anything?

“However, I would argue this is about something larger than Donald Trump and it is about the Republican Party and it is about the values of a country and it is about women and the way women are treated in the workplace. And elsewhere. And that presidents are supposed to speak on these kinds of issues. And if he can't speak on that issue, his silence is very telling,” Borger replied.

Here’s the relevant transcript from November 16's CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin:

CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin
November 16, 2017
2:18 p.m. Eastern

BROOKE BALDWIN: But just out of the gate, the fact that you have Gloria, you know, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, right, from the left and right, both saying there needs to be an ethics investigation. I realize that this was years and years ago, this story, and he was a private citizen at the time, but can he survive this? 

GLORIA BORGER: It remains to be seen. I mean, we should say that Leeann did not call for him to step down or say he ought to step down. When she was telling they were having an Ethics Committee investigation, she said that's on him.

BALDWIN: And he said yes I'll participate.

BORGER: Yes. We have to look at the context in which all of this occurring, which is Moore. Judge Moore. And that has been, you know, brewing and percolating, whatever you want to say, for days and days and days. So now then you have a Democrat and these charges and I can be sure of one thing, which is this is not the last. This is just —

BALDWIN: The last which?

BORGER: The last woman who will come out against a member of Congress. This is scratching the surface. He was not a member of the Congress at the time this occurred. He was just a comedian.

BALDWIN: Right.

BORGER: We'll see if her coming out gives other women sort of, you know, more purpose and allows them to talk about people who are currently in positions of power who could effect them. Franken has no effect on her at this particular time in her life. It's a little bit more difficult for women who were working in the Congress. But I think what you are going to see is more and more on this as we see around the country. Congress is always a lagging indicator and in this, it is as well.

BALDWIN: She just also — to mentioned when you read her whole — her whole — Leeann's piece, I think one of the reasons she spoke out was because the woman we just played a clip of, Congresswoman Jackie Spier was on radio show and she thought, alright, if she can tell her Me Too story, then I can as well. What do you think?

EMILY JANE FOX: It's interesting what you think about what Judge Moore and his supporters are thinking about as you watch this. If he does continue on in the election and win a seat in the U.S. election, this is the climate he'll enter into and he's watching what they are saying on both sides in these allegations Senator Franken, what are they going to do allegations against Judge Moore? And I think that's an important thing for the people who continue to support Judge Moore, that this is the climate that he's going to enter into and it's not for giving for anybody for any kind of allegation. And certainly the ones against Judge Moore are more serious.

(....)

BALDWIN: Yes and what about the President? I guess I'm left wondering, and Gloria here’s my question to you, questions have been shouted at the president, as he was coming, as he was going when meeting with the house Republicans before the big vote on the hill. Nothing, according to Jeff Zeleny’s reporting, part of the reason that he hasn't commented on the whole Roy Moore piece of his whole story is, as I mentioned his own personal, let's rip the band-aid off, his own issue with women coming forward through the years alleging sexual, you know, assault and harassment against the now President. But how long can the White House just sit on this and not say anything?

BORGER: Well, you’re going to see Sarah Huckabee Sanders come out and perhaps she will be the mouth piece for the President in this.

BALDWIN: But especially as a woman.

BORGER: But, you know, don't forget, during the campaign when he was confronted with all these women, who are now by the way come out again if they haven't already, and I believe one or two have and said what about us? Are you forgetting us? He said they were lying. He said he didn't believe them and that it was completely fabricated. So, it's very difficult for him to say to Moore. who was saying the same thing that this is fabricated, et cetera, et, it's very difficult for him to say, well you should have believed me, that they were lying, but, I want him to step aside. Everybody understands that this is difficult for him politically. However, I would argue this is about something larger than Donald Trump and it is about the Republican Party and it is about the values of a country and it is about women and the way women are treated in the workplace.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BORGER: And elsewhere.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BORGER: And that presidents are supposed to speak on these kinds of issues. And if he can't speak on that issue, his silence is very telling.

BALDWIN: Agreed. Very curious to see how Sarah Sanders handles this in just a little while. It’s the first White House press briefing since, of course, this big Asia trip. So how — what she says and maybe what she doesn't say will be quite telling.

[TigersEye]

It is women like these that make sexual harassment charges tedious and meaningless. As long as they’re willing to indulge in such obvious double standards lubricated with gallons of sophistry and rammed home by straw men then it’s all too boring to take any of them seriously.

[ptsal]

The entertainment business does not get much, if any, of my disposable income.

[laconic]

No, Bill Cosby didn’t get a free pass because most feminists, including the CNN panelists, are white racists.

[timestax]

[Mercat]

Awesome

[Personal Responsibility]

Olympic level logical contortions they have to make to ensure their side is never wrong.

[Ms Mable]

A vile, vulgar comedian just like “Louis C.K.”

And they are both perverts... hiding behind being a so-called comedian!

[FrdmLvr]

The worst thing would be for him to leave, imho. The DNC will just find the most liberal replacement they can find for the governor to appoint, and the media will be relentless about the moral superiority of the Dems. The repubes will up their demands on Moore. I’d rather see a weakened Franken stay than give the Dems false bragging rights.

[Lysandru]

Yes, I used to dismiss Franken as "just a comedian." But you Libtards put him in the U.S. Senate.

Do Liberals say that Trump's transgressions can be dismissed because he's "a reality TV star?"

Progressive scum.

[xzins]

Watching cnn will rot your brain.

[Flaming Conservative]

What a load of horse hockey! Or maybe chicken $**t would be more accurate. They absolutely have NO SHAME! NONE whatsoever!

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Beyond Franken, a lot of young leftists seem to think that comedians are professionals with special professional rights to do or say things that mere mortals are not allowed.

[Robert357]

And Moore was just a kickboxing jock.

[Flaming Conservative]

Franken, like most comedians, probably has ADHD or some other behavioral disorder. Usually intelligent, but no filter on behavior or speech. In committee hearings, he sounds like he’s on thorazine. He’s gotta be on something to bank down his tendency to act like a six year old, which is probably his natural state. He always sounds like he’s got a mouth full of glue. All the self medicating he did for years has robbed him of more than a few brain cells, I’m sure.

[neverevergiveup]

This isn't even about a specific ideology. It's about ego, more than anything else. Liberalism is led in large measure by people like Hillary, whose whole credibility is based upon either where they went to school, or their connections in the academic, political, entertainment triad. It's about thinking you're smarter than everyone else, that you are part of the mover and shaker crowd, that you are guiding the world forward, that you are historic, that you are cool, that you are special. I guarantee that these sentiments, or a variation thereof, are the most important driving forces of the vast majority of those in the Democratic leadership, and those who are activists on the left. The vast majority. Ego, the absolutely number one driving motivation.

Having said that, many of the positions that are held by the self-identified ‘progressives’, like ‘a woman's right to choose’ - i.e. abortion on demand, federally funded abortion, fighting ‘white privilege’, derision and ridicule of religion (except Islam), socialized medicine, anthropomorphic global warming, etc. etc. are just the memorized identifiers that mark them as members of the ‘intellectually elite’. It's actually quite pathetic, like thinking you're something special because you know the difference between Stilton and gorgonzola.

[tumblindice]

Liberals trying to do talk radio is really funny stuff, but the problem is that they aren’t trying to be funny.
That show bled red.
Franken is an SNL creepy perv, but we’ve known that here for years. Still hard to believe that diapered `tard is a US senator.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And Moore was just a Democrat at the time in question.

[The Great RJ]

Liberals are hoisted on their own petard. You can’t claim outrage over Roy Moore or even Trumps “ pussy grabber” comment and ignore Franken or even Bill Clinton’s sexual assaults without being utter hypocrites

[Yosemitest]

Read this:

IT’S A FAKE!
Analyst Says Judge Roy Moore Signature Inside Gloria Allred Accuser’s Yearbook Was FORGED



The sevens in 1977 to the right of “Christmas,” are very different from the sevens in the date (12-22-77) above “Old Hickory House.”

“Look at the two versions of the number “7,” tweeted Wictor.

“”12-22-77” and “Olde Hickory House” were written by a different person,” he added.

Next, [Thomas] Wictor points out “the “R” and “y” in “Roy,”” are not written the same way.

The inflection of the “Y” is more pronounced in Moore’ signature as Chief Justice. The “R” is noticeably longer in the signature of Chief Justice, as well.

“During his legal career, Judge Moore became the first full-time Deputy District Attorney in Etowah County, Alabama, and served in this position from 1977 until 1982. In 1984, Judge Moore undertook private practice of law in Gadsden, Alabama,” states Moore’s bio on his campaign website.

“The accuser to this day calls him the District Attorney. He was NEVER District attorney. He was DEPUTY DA. DDA,” says Wictor. ... "

Check out this little fact from TheCipher

Interesting revelation about the signature in the yearbook and where it probably came from.
Turns out Moore was the judge who ruled against Nelson in her divorce case and the signature is exactly how it was on his ruling - explains the D.A. ( which Nelson has ).
Nelson also said she never had contact with him since the "incident"and failed to mention he was the judge in her divorce case.

Roy Moore Attorney Demands Gloria Allred Release Original Yearbook, Contends it’s a ‘Fraud’


" ... "D.A." (District Attorney) initials after Moore’s signature, was recognized by Moore as the initials that his then-assistant, Deborah Adams , used to sign documents. ... "

From "TigerClaws" :

" ... But (exhibit 2) click on the image in the link.
You can clearly see two different color ink pens were used.

https://mobile.twitter.com/CNN/status/930205088299257859

Here's that image and a link to its ORIGINAL source :

And here’s one more source:

Live Stream: Moore Campaign Holding Press Conference

“ … Furthermore, after Moore's signature are the initials "D.A.," which Nelson and her attorney say represented were written by Moore because he was district attorney at the time.
But Moore was an assistant district attorney, Jauregui said,
And Moore can't recall ever signing his name with the letters "D.A." after it.
But he had seen it before, Jauregui said, when he was on the bench.

His assistant stamped his signature on papers and then put "D.A." on them, Jauregui said.
That's exactly how the signature appears on the divorce decree that Moore signed, he added. … ”

That's the THIRD Spelling of his assistant.

WHICH ONE IS CORRECT ?

Check out this little fact from TheCipher

Interesting revelation about the signature in the yearbook and where it probably came from.
Turns out Moore was the judge who ruled against Nelson in her divorce case and the signature is exactly how it was on his ruling - explains the D.A. ( which Nelson has ).
Nelson also said she never had contact with him since the "incident"and failed to mention he was the judge in her divorce case.

Roy Moore Attorney Demands Gloria Allred Release Original Yearbook, Contends it’s a ‘Fraud’


" ... "D.A." (District Attorney) initials after Moore’s signature, was recognized by Moore as the initials that his then-assistant, Deborah Adams , used to sign documents. ... "

Here’s one more source:

Embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore's attorney implies his signature in a girl's high school yearbook was a forgery

“ … "Judge Moore looked at that D.A. after that signature," Jauregui said.
“No, he wasn't, he was the assistant district attorney."
He added that Moore's assistant when he was presiding over Nelson's divorce proceedings was named Delver Adams,
who typically stamped his initials on court filings. … ”

And here’s a link to a DIFFERENT SPELLING of that name:

Roy Moore Campaign to Gloria Allred: Release the Evidence to Determine Whether There is Fraud

" … “Judge Moore says he can’t remember ever signing his name with DA after it.
But he had seen it before.
You know where he had seen it ?
When he was on the bench, his assistant whose initials are capital D. A. Delbra Adams would stamp his signature on a document and put capital D. A.
That’s exactly how this signature appears on the divorce decree that Judge Moore signed dismissing the divorce action of Beverly Nelson.” … "

The more I search those different spellings of the assistant's name, the more I'm inclined to believe it was Delbra Adams.
I get results for a Court Specialist at State of Alabama Circuit Clerk's Office Cherokee County.
I also get results as a certified public notary located in Sand Rock, A.
And ... I get results for Delbra Adams in Leesburg , AL. with a lot of A.K.A.s

Debra L Adams, Delbra M Adams, Debbie Adams, Debra Ly Adams, Delbra L Adams, Debble Adams, Debra Adams, Delbra Lynn Adams, Delbra L Admas

[Yosemitest]

Here's an excerpt from Rush Limbaugh's Radio Show:

The Swamp Demands Conformity
Nov 15, 2017

...
RUSH: Here’s Mark in Port Townsend — where’s Port Townsend ?
Port Townsend what?

CALLER: That’s a little bit west of Seattle.

RUSH: In Washington.
Okay. Great to have you with us.
How you doing, sir ?

CALLER: I’m doing great, sir.
I hope you’re doing well yourself.

RUSH: I am under siege today, Mark.
I’m under siege.
The Drive-By Media is after me because I dared to point out that Roy Moore used to be a Democrat.

CALLER: That’s why you get paid the big bucks.
I’m envious of you.

RUSH: (laughing).

CALLER: So the comment I wanted to make was that as a retired law enforcement officer, Jeff Sessions —
I’m speaking as a retired law enforcement officer
— Jeff Sessions says he doesn’t see any reason to doubt these girls’ word.
Well, I see a really good reason.
None of these girls have been put under oath and made a sworn statement under penalty of perjury.
And Gloria Allred should be able to tell you
that is the first thing you do when you get a client,
you depose them and you get their statement on the record,
and then you go from there.
And if they’re not willing to make a sworn statement, that sounds really fishy to me.

RUSH: I take it you don’t believe the women
or you just don’t have enough information yet to make a determination ?

CALLER: You don’t have enough information to make a determination,
but speaking as an ex-cop, I find it fishy that nobody has made a sworn statement.
And about that yearbook thing,
you know, when I was in uniform at a certain time of year
you’d get kids walking up to you all the time wanting you to sign their yearbook.
“Hey, Officer Mark, sign my yearbook.”
And I was only a cop.
Can you imagine how politicians get kids wanting —
doesn’t mean you remember all of them.

RUSH: Hang on.
On the yearbook stuff, folks, for those of you who may not be up to speed on this —
and I doubt there are very many of you
— there are allegations that some of these autographs in yearbooks are forged.
There are conservative blog sites claiming to have evidence by virtue of side-by-side comparison
that somebody other than Judge Moore signed some of these things.
This is the first I’ve mentioned that.
I’m just reacting to you bringing up the yearbooks.

You’re upset with Jeff Sessions.
He’s the attorney general, and he is going ahead and acknowledging that
he believes witnesses before anybody’s been put under oath,
and you think that’s a little unprofessional, right ?

CALLER: It sounds to me like he’s just trying to tread carefully.

RUSH: Well, look, this is politics.
It has its own court, and it’s not a court of law.

CALLER: But these girls are making public statements —

RUSH: They are women.
They are women.

CALLER: Okay, they’re making public statements impugning somebody’s honor.
And somebody with responsibility needs to explain to them,
if you’re gonna besmirch somebody, you gotta put it on the record.

RUSH: No, you don’t.
Only in court.
And this is not in court.
This is in politics.

CALLER: I understand it’s politics,
but Gloria Allred should know what the law is.

RUSH: I’m sure she does.
That’s why she’s not in court and is instead on TV.

CALLER: I just want to make that point, Rush.
Thank you.

RUSH: I’m glad you called, Mark.
Folks, I have to tell you,
I’m having a little fun with this.
No, don’t misunderstand here,
but he’s exactly right, but of course that doesn’t —
there’s a whole different inertia and movement now that is taking place in the world of politics,
and there is no room for doubt.
I mean,
the guy did it, you don’t disbelieve the women.
I mean, that’s something you must subscribe to now.
The women don’t lie,
except if you’re Juanita Broaddrick,
then of course…
that’s the point.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: I was having fun with the caller and his obvious consternation
by confusing what happens in politics with what happens in the law,which is ironic,
because the laws are written by these people.
But what happens there
apparently the law doesn’t matter first and foremost.
Find it funny.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Steve in Rochester, Minnesota.
Great to have you with us, sir.
How are you ?

CALLER: Hey, good.
Thanks, Rush. Dittos.
I’ve been listening since 1991.
So I was reading through a Fox News story on the various senators,
Republican senators and their comments about this whole situation,
and I read read ’em one after another; there were many.
And I was thinking as I got most of the way through it,
this sounds a lot like your media montages, vis-a-vis gravitas,
that I often hear on your show.
The similarities were striking in what they said.
And it was an observation that led me to think that
this is really a coordinated attack.
And I think that should be the focus, not the “he said, she said,”
but the fact that
this guy’s being attacked by the establishment, big time.

RUSH: Let me put it to you another way in the form of a question.
Interesting observation, by the way, that you,
in reading and listening to all of the different people opposing Judge Moore,
they’re all saying the same thing, is that your point ?
Just like when Cheney was mentioned as the potential vice presidential nominee for George W. Bush,
about 85 media people all said,
“That’s gravitas.
This is to provide gravitas.”
They all had that word.
You think the same thing’s happening here with the response to Judge Moore ?

CALLER: Yes.
Exactly.

RUSH: Okay.
So do you think —
let me just ask you point-blank
— do you think that, whether he did it or not, he’s being railroaded ?

CALLER: Yes.

RUSH: Interesting.

CALLER: Yep. I think this is a coordinated attack,
and what spurred me to think this
was your comments yesterday about Mitch McConnell attacking Bannon’s choice.
And I thought
how else could you do this ?
Here we are a month away from the election.

RUSH: Let me tell you something.
I don’t think there’s any doubt here.
When Bannon went public and said that
Judge Moore was the first of many candidates they’re gonna support
in order to oust the Republican leadership,
I don’t think there’s any question here that McConnell’s reacting to that.

Let me just ask you this.
Have any of you ever,
do you ever remember Mitch McConnell or the Republican leadership ever going after a Democrat
the way they’re going after — (interruption)
You don’t remember.
You don’t remember McConnell ever going after a Democrat the way they’re going after …